Brian JopekMay 7

This photo is going to be in the history books eventually.
#USpol

“The Sergeant at Arms blocks Representative Justin Pearson from Memphis from entering a committee meeting about redrawing the map specifically for the district he represents.

A white officer with a badge, blocking a black congressional member, from joining meeting that specifically targets the black district meant to give representation to people of color.

The segregation is alive and well in the south.” - Brian Garlick

Show threadCaleb MaclennanMay 8
@BrianJopek Not a single word as to why or how this altercation happened? This is so patently propaganda — without any context for what lead to the pose the picture actually says nothing at all.
Show threadChris HayesMay 8

@alerque @BrianJopek
You criticize OP for lacking context, and yet you supply none.
You call it propaganda, and yet you present no evidence.

OP did not misconstrue events—Senate members are redrawing the map of Pearson's district to split the democratic vote, aka gerrymandering.

Pearson as a House member is allowed to attend Senate meetings, & vice versa.

Republicans moved the meeting location without notice and locked the room to block Pearson, his colleagues and the public from attending.

Show threadChris Hayes

@alerque @BrianJopek
There's plenty of articles on it.

The NPR article shows how they're going to split the Memphis area across 3 districts. The census data shows this an obvious example of gerrymandering.

https://www.npr.org/2026/05/07/nx-s1-5815023/tennessee-redistricting-map-passage

May 8 at 7:47amWeb